Video stream representation and navigation using inherent data

Abstract

An MPEG compressed bit stream representing video information is associated with supplemental information such as motion, audio, scene cut, and editorial information. The motion information is identified and processed to determine characteristics of the video information. Motion information is processed to determine magnitude, coherence, and correlation with known motion information templates. MPEG motion vectors are used to determine motion information. Audio, scene cut, and editorial information is similarly identified and processed. The motion information along with other types of information is provided to a client by using color bars or other techniques to allow a client to interact with the video information using supplemental information.

1. A method for providing motion information from a compressed bit stream associated with video information to a client, the method comprising:
 identifying motion information associated with a compressed bit stream; 
 processing motion information to generate processed motion information, including: 
 determining motion information coherence by dividing a magnitude of averaged motion vectors by an average magnitude of motion vectors, wherein a motion vector indicates a direction of motion included with the video information; and 
 determining motion information magnitude based at least in part on the average magnitude of motion vectors; 
 providing the processed motion information to the client, wherein providing the processed motion information allows the client to identify a location of interest in the bit stream based at least in part on one or more of the motion information coherence and the motion information magnitude; and 
 receiving from the client a selection indicating the location of interest in the bit stream. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compressed bit stream is an MPEG compressed bit stream. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processed motion information is provided to the client using color bars. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processed motion information is represented using hue, brightness, and saturation. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processed motion information is represented using an alarm. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , processing motion information comprises comparing motion information in the bit stream with a motion information template. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein comparing motion information comprises determining correlation between the motion information in the bit stream and the motion information template. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying scene cut information using the processed motion information. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising providing the scene cut information to the client. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying audio information from the compressed bit stream. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing the audio information to the client. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying editorial information from the compressed bit stream. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising providing the editorial information to the client. 
     
     
       14. A method for providing motion information from a bit stream associated with video information to a client, the method comprising:
 receiving an MPEG-compressed video bit stream representing a series of images; processing motion vectors of said MPEG-compressed video bit stream to produce motion information concerning said series images, including:
 determining motion information coherence by dividing a magnitude of averaged motion vectors by an average magnitude of motion vectors, wherein a motion vector indicates a direction of motion included with the video information; and 
 determining motion information magnitude based at least in part on the average magnitude of motion vectors; 
 
 displaying said motion information to a client in a graphical user interface whereby said client is able to identify a location of interest in the bit stream based at least in part on one or more of the motion information coherence and the motion information magnitude; and 
 receiving from the client a selection indicating the location of interest in the bit stream. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the motion information is provided to the client using color bars. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the motion information is represented using hue, brightness, and saturation. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , processing motion vectors comprises comparing motion information in the bit stream with a motion information template. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein comparing motion information comprises determining correlation between the motion information in the bit stream and the motion information template. 
     
     
       19. A method for providing supplemental information from a MPEG bit stream associated with video information to a client, the method comprising:
 identifying supplemental information associated with an MPEG bit stream; processing supplemental information to generate processed supplemental information, including:
 determining motion information coherence by dividing a magnitude of averaged motion vectors by an average magnitude of motion vectors, wherein a motion vector indicates a direction of motion included with the video information; and 
 determining motion information magnitude based at least in part on the average magnitude of motion vectors; 
 
 providing the processed supplemental information to the client, wherein providing the processed supplemental information allows the client to identify a location of interest in the bit stream based at least in part on one or more of the motion information coherence and the motion information magnitude; and 
 receiving from the client a selection indicating the location of interest in the bit stream. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the processed supplemental information is provided to the client using color bars. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the processed supplemental information is represented using hue, brightness, and saturation. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the processed supplemental information is represented using an alarm. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the processed supplemental information is processed motion information. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the processed supplemental information is processed audio information. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the processed supplemental information is processed scene cut information. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the processed supplemental information is processed editorial information. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus for providing motion information from a MPEG bit stream associated with video information to a client, the apparatus comprising:
 means for identifying motion information associated with an MPEG bit stream; 
 means for processing motion information to generate processed motion information, including:
 determining motion information coherence by dividing a magnitude of averaged motion vectors by an average magnitude of motion vectors, wherein a motion vector indicates a direction of motion included with the video information; and 
 determining motion information magnitude based at least in part on the average magnitude of motion vectors; 
 
 means for providing the processed motion information to the client, wherein providing the processed motion information allows the client to identify a location of interest in the bit stream based at least in part on one or more of the motion information coherence and the motion information magnitude; and 
 means for receiving from the client a selection indicating the location of interest in the bit stream. 
 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the processed motion information is provided to the client using color bars. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the processed motion information is represented using hue, brightness and saturation. 
     
     
       30. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium on which is provided program instructions for providing motion information from a MPEG bit stream associated with video information to a client, the computer readable medium comprising:
 computer code for identifying motion information associated with an MPEG bit stream; computer code for processing motion information to generate processed motion information, including:
 determining motion information coherence by dividing a magnitude of averaged motion vectors by an average magnitude of motion vectors, wherein a motion vector indicates a direction of motion included with the video information; and 
 determining motion information magnitude based at least in part on the average magnitude of motion vectors; 
 
 computer code for providing the processed motion information to the client, wherein providing the processed motion information allows the client to identify a location of interest in the bit stream based at least in part on one or more of the motion information coherence and the motion information magnitude; and 
 computer code for receiving from the client a selection indicating the location of interest in the bit stream. 
 
     
     
       31. The computer program product of  claim 30 , wherein the processed motion information is provided to the client using color bars. 
     
     
       32. The computer program product of  claim 30 , wherein the processed motion information is represented using hue, brightness, and saturation. 
     
     
       33. An apparatus for providing motion information from a MPEG bit stream associated with video information to a client, the apparatus comprising:
 an input interface configured to receive an MPEG bit stream; 
 memory coupled with the input interface; 
 a processor coupled with memory, wherein the processor is configured to identify motion information associated with an MPEG bit stream and process motion information to generate processed motion information, including:
 determining motion information coherence by dividing a magnitude of averaged motion vectors by an average magnitude of motion vectors, wherein a motion vector indicates a direction of motion included with the video information; and 
 determining motion information magnitude based at least in part on the average magnitude of motion vectors; 
 
 an output interface coupled with the processor, the output interface configured to provide the processed motion information to the client, wherein providing the processed motion information allows the client to identify a location of interest in the bit stream based at least in part on one or more of the motion information coherence and the motion information magnitude; and 
 an input interface coupled with the processor, the input interface configured to receive from the client a selection indicating the location of interest in the bit stream. 
 
     
     
       34. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the processed motion information is provided to the client using color bars. 
     
     
       35. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the processed motion information is represented using hue, brightness, and saturation. 
     
     
       36. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the processed motion information is represented using an alarm. 
     
     
       37. The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising storing the motion information in a database. 
     
     
       38. The apparatus of  claim 33 , processing motion information comprises comparing motion information in the bit stream with a motion information template. 
     
     
       39. The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein comparing motion information comprises determining correlation between the motion information in the bit stream and the motion information template. 
     
     
       40. The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising identifying scene cut information using the processed motion information. 
     
     
       41. The apparatus of  claim 40 , further comprising providing the scene cut information to the client. 
     
     
       42. The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising identifying audio information from the MPEG compressed bit stream. 
     
     
       43. The apparatus of  claim 42 , further comprising providing the audio information to the client. 
     
     
       44. The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising identifying editorial information from the MPEG compressed bit stream. 
     
     
       45. The apparatus of  claim 44 , further comprising providing the editorial information to the client.